I have hit a gold mine as the Primary Pianist. Never in my life have I had a calling where almost every week people are thanking me, telling me how wonderful I am, and just so happy to have me here.........................and I do pretty much next to nothing.
I mean really? Spending 20-30 min plucking out a few tunes and then off I go to Relief Society. No obligations during the week, no meetings to attend, no lesson to plan, it's the best.
Leaders love me, parents love me, even the kids love me because of it. And the best part of all, I don't have to worry about what the kids do. I was telling Casey, if the kids aren't paying attention, or climbing the walls, who cares! I am supposed to focus on the piano. That's somebody else's job.
But the climax of it all happened today. There was a family I had never seen in our barrio today and they were from Venezuela. I don't know if they were visiting or are a refugee family (country is kind of in turmoil right now). Anyway, I was standing next to Johel who was talking to the parents. The little girl, who I am guess is about 6 or 7, looked up at me and said in Spanish, "You play the piano very beautifully."
Oh I was tickled pink! I knelt down and asked her if she enjoyed singing time. She said she did and then I said I hoped she would be able to come back and sing with us again.
Really, does it get any better than this?
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Sunday, February 19, 2017
The Natives are Restless
About two Sundays ago I was busy to say the least. It started off with me heading to Tania's house in Independencia right after church. She was going to teach me how to make some Peruvian food. And this is coming from a very good cook.
But the day couldn't be as simple as that. During Sunday School second hour I was sitting next to some guy in the ward I hadn't seen before. He would turn to me occasionally and say an English word and I was wondering what he was trying to do. Finally, at one point I leaned over and said in Spanish, "Do you know I speak Spanish?" He replied he did. I didn't think too much of it.
Third hour though was Sharing Time in Primary. There is this one kid who is literally the terror of primary. Like, just simply having him not there you notice a huge difference. Anyway, he was being his usual hyper self, so I finally just took him outside to let him run around. While I was out there the guy who had tried to speak English to me came out and just started peppering me with questions.
I mean at first I wasn't catching on till I realized he was interested in me. Things like, where was I from, why was I here, was I married, did I have kids, etc. Looking back later I realized he should have been in Elder's Quorum.
Then, on my way to Tania's I saw a guy from the barrio that I had met when I initially came down. I only knew him by name and face, but he had been around the past 4 months, so I figured he was harmless. He was on the same route I was to visit his dad. We started talking (because isn't that what you do when you run into somebody from your ward?) and before I knew it it was the same routine again. He was asking me where I was from, how old I was, did I have kids, had I been married before, etc. I mean, within 15 min he's offering to take me places and inviting me out to lunch. We got to the stop he was supposed to get off at and he decided he would "accompany" me all the way to where I needed to get off at.
Of all the Sundays for Tania's husband to be late picking me up. Tania's in a part of town where if her or her husband don't arrive, I get back on the bus and head back. So here I was, stuck at the station, which wouldn't usually be a problem, except I've got this guy from my barrio who is bugging me to go out with him.
Tania's husband finally arrived and I ran off without giving the guy a second glance. I texted Johel whining about it later and his response? Oh just come over for Family Home Evening tomorrow and we can discuss it.
Johel was, of course, dying to hear what had happened. Which guys, what did they do, etc. He said after I explained it all that really, it was just Peruvian culture and that's how the men are. But he also said if I was his daughter he would not want me to be with either one of them. I guess the one who bugged me during the third hour drifts in and out of activity and is also 20 years older. The other he said has actually asked other girls in the barrio out and is known to be very forward. Yeah, I have to say, being so forward with someone after knowing them for only a few minutes is a real turnoff.
The problem is, I've just gotten to the point when I run into men on the street I just tell them I'm married. I have a fake name I give them and everything. But if they are in my barrio I can't pull that scheme. I talked with Erin about it though and she says she gets hit on all the time also. She says sometimes she wears headphones even though she's not playing anything and just acts like she can't hear the men.
I'm becoming less nice though and now just make it apparent to some guys the answer is no and I am not interested.
My sister Deborah made the comment though when I spoke to her later that night that Johel takes very good care of me. He really does.
But the day couldn't be as simple as that. During Sunday School second hour I was sitting next to some guy in the ward I hadn't seen before. He would turn to me occasionally and say an English word and I was wondering what he was trying to do. Finally, at one point I leaned over and said in Spanish, "Do you know I speak Spanish?" He replied he did. I didn't think too much of it.
Third hour though was Sharing Time in Primary. There is this one kid who is literally the terror of primary. Like, just simply having him not there you notice a huge difference. Anyway, he was being his usual hyper self, so I finally just took him outside to let him run around. While I was out there the guy who had tried to speak English to me came out and just started peppering me with questions.
I mean at first I wasn't catching on till I realized he was interested in me. Things like, where was I from, why was I here, was I married, did I have kids, etc. Looking back later I realized he should have been in Elder's Quorum.
Then, on my way to Tania's I saw a guy from the barrio that I had met when I initially came down. I only knew him by name and face, but he had been around the past 4 months, so I figured he was harmless. He was on the same route I was to visit his dad. We started talking (because isn't that what you do when you run into somebody from your ward?) and before I knew it it was the same routine again. He was asking me where I was from, how old I was, did I have kids, had I been married before, etc. I mean, within 15 min he's offering to take me places and inviting me out to lunch. We got to the stop he was supposed to get off at and he decided he would "accompany" me all the way to where I needed to get off at.
Of all the Sundays for Tania's husband to be late picking me up. Tania's in a part of town where if her or her husband don't arrive, I get back on the bus and head back. So here I was, stuck at the station, which wouldn't usually be a problem, except I've got this guy from my barrio who is bugging me to go out with him.
Tania's husband finally arrived and I ran off without giving the guy a second glance. I texted Johel whining about it later and his response? Oh just come over for Family Home Evening tomorrow and we can discuss it.
Johel was, of course, dying to hear what had happened. Which guys, what did they do, etc. He said after I explained it all that really, it was just Peruvian culture and that's how the men are. But he also said if I was his daughter he would not want me to be with either one of them. I guess the one who bugged me during the third hour drifts in and out of activity and is also 20 years older. The other he said has actually asked other girls in the barrio out and is known to be very forward. Yeah, I have to say, being so forward with someone after knowing them for only a few minutes is a real turnoff.
The problem is, I've just gotten to the point when I run into men on the street I just tell them I'm married. I have a fake name I give them and everything. But if they are in my barrio I can't pull that scheme. I talked with Erin about it though and she says she gets hit on all the time also. She says sometimes she wears headphones even though she's not playing anything and just acts like she can't hear the men.
I'm becoming less nice though and now just make it apparent to some guys the answer is no and I am not interested.
My sister Deborah made the comment though when I spoke to her later that night that Johel takes very good care of me. He really does.
Stake Conference. Are you kidding me?
A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail from the Stake Committee chair about a meeting for the music of Stake Conference. I guess the tradition here in the Stake is for both Stake Conferences they always do a choir. So a few months before Stake Conference rolls around, people who enjoy being in the choir know it will happen.
Here I was thinking there would be 5-6 people in the meeting and possibly a member of the Stake Presidency there. Looking back I don't know what I was thinking, but like I have ever participated in music at a Stake level (let alone a ward level!). Mom told me I was expecting way to much and she was right (she often is).
It was the Stake Music chair, me, and a 15 year old girl named Rosita who is the other pianist.
So here is how it works. The two sessions of Stake Conference, the choir does two musical numbers. The Stake Music Chair, Hermano Salazar, asked Rosita and I what hymns we thought would be good. Well, we both shared some of our favorites. Then Brother Salazar divided them out. Rosita got assigned two, I got assigned the other two.
I am relieved because I don't want to have to worry about playing four musical numbers. I got assigned "For the Beauty of the Earth" and finding a lyrical arrangement to go with that was a pain in the neck. Not to mention practicing for it.
But here is where things get even more interesting. Hermano Salazar and I met previously to go over the songs and the arrangements. I told him since I'm up there playing the arrangements I might as well play the hymns for Stake Conference. He kind of got a little quiet and then said, "Um, you won't need to. Sister Alison will play them." I gave him this look like, "Are you kidding me?"
Sister Alison is the other pianist in my ward. The one who is a music teacher that nobody can stand to work with. Hence the reason I am so busy and valued. Hermano Salazar told me in the past she had accompanied the choir, but it did not go well. He said fortunately, she had always been pleasant with him. But before he was the director, he was there at rehearsals where she would just be yelling at members of the choir. Like people who were just being goofy and having fun. So I guess there became this new rule that she still plays the hymns for Stake Conference, but she does not work with the choir anymore.
I looked at Brother Salazar and said, "So let me get this straight. She goes up there and plays the opening hymn. Then I go up there and play the first song for the choir. She plays the intermediate hymn, then I go up there to play the last song for the choir, which is also the closing hymn?"
What is this? Musical pianists?
Hermano Salazar, who is on the High Council, said, "Look, Stake President asked me to take care of the choir. Beyond that, I have no say over what else happens."
Whatever.
Don't get me wrong. That's two less hymns I have to worry about playing. Add to that accompanying the Young Women for New Beginnings and also playing for primary, I am plenty occupied.
I'm so glad the school I'll be working at has pianos. Hopefully I can get some practicing in.
Here I was thinking there would be 5-6 people in the meeting and possibly a member of the Stake Presidency there. Looking back I don't know what I was thinking, but like I have ever participated in music at a Stake level (let alone a ward level!). Mom told me I was expecting way to much and she was right (she often is).
It was the Stake Music chair, me, and a 15 year old girl named Rosita who is the other pianist.
So here is how it works. The two sessions of Stake Conference, the choir does two musical numbers. The Stake Music Chair, Hermano Salazar, asked Rosita and I what hymns we thought would be good. Well, we both shared some of our favorites. Then Brother Salazar divided them out. Rosita got assigned two, I got assigned the other two.
I am relieved because I don't want to have to worry about playing four musical numbers. I got assigned "For the Beauty of the Earth" and finding a lyrical arrangement to go with that was a pain in the neck. Not to mention practicing for it.
But here is where things get even more interesting. Hermano Salazar and I met previously to go over the songs and the arrangements. I told him since I'm up there playing the arrangements I might as well play the hymns for Stake Conference. He kind of got a little quiet and then said, "Um, you won't need to. Sister Alison will play them." I gave him this look like, "Are you kidding me?"
Sister Alison is the other pianist in my ward. The one who is a music teacher that nobody can stand to work with. Hence the reason I am so busy and valued. Hermano Salazar told me in the past she had accompanied the choir, but it did not go well. He said fortunately, she had always been pleasant with him. But before he was the director, he was there at rehearsals where she would just be yelling at members of the choir. Like people who were just being goofy and having fun. So I guess there became this new rule that she still plays the hymns for Stake Conference, but she does not work with the choir anymore.
I looked at Brother Salazar and said, "So let me get this straight. She goes up there and plays the opening hymn. Then I go up there and play the first song for the choir. She plays the intermediate hymn, then I go up there to play the last song for the choir, which is also the closing hymn?"
What is this? Musical pianists?
Hermano Salazar, who is on the High Council, said, "Look, Stake President asked me to take care of the choir. Beyond that, I have no say over what else happens."
Whatever.
Don't get me wrong. That's two less hymns I have to worry about playing. Add to that accompanying the Young Women for New Beginnings and also playing for primary, I am plenty occupied.
I'm so glad the school I'll be working at has pianos. Hopefully I can get some practicing in.
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